Good Luck

Close up view of the calligraphy artwork mounted to this silk brocade wall scroll

This is a very unique form of calligraphy. It's a Chinese character that is made to look like an actual figure. In this case, a person carrying a "bag of plenty" because good fortune has come their way.

The large character is also a representation of "fu" which means good luck and good fortune in Chinese. Below that is a title "fu shou shuang quan" which basically means "may your good fortune and longevity be doubled". This is a common wish offered or given to older people in China.

Here's Sandy holding a tiger special Asian calligraphy wall scroll. As you can see, it's a nice large-sized wall scroll that will look great in your home.

About the Artist...

This was painted by a very shy artist named Ye Ying-Xing from near Guilin, China. I asked if I could take his picture, but he politely refused with a gesture of modesty. He does not seek fame, and in another gesture of Chinese modesty, he insulted his own artwork, saying that it was not good enough to make such a fuss over.

I think the artwork is worthy, and offers a unique and different style that most people in the west have never seen before (it's even rare in China).

I pee freely:

If you come to China, save your small change...
In Beijing, the government recently passed a law against charging money for using a public toilet.
However, in other cities and towns around China, expect to pay between 2-5 mao (about 3-5 cents) for the use.
Bring your own toilet paper, or expect to pay 5 mao for a small pack of tissue as you enter.

In my opinion, the best public toilet in all of China is at Tian'anmen Square.
This public restroom is not only clean, but also features its own gift shop.